Tyler Madison, Inc.

Bowden cable

Bowden cable

A Bowden cable is a cable system in which a small stranded wire moves inside a flexible outer casing. The Bowden cable has been in use since the late 1800s and has replaced the complex cable and pulley arrangements seen in bicycles and automobiles. Its hollow exterior housing is often made of spirally wound steel wire wrapped in a plastic sheath.

The cable was initially intended to be used as part of a bicycle brake mechanism and was widely accepted by cycling enthusiasts. The original Bowden brake mechanism consisted of a braking stirrup with a set of rubber pads positioned in line with the rear wheel's metal rim. A Bowden cable attached to a lever on the bicycle's handlebars control the stirrup. This required professional installation in order to deliver proper and reliable braking force.

Bowden Conduits

'Bowden' conduit is a flexible, tightly wound spring capable of keeping the spring straight with its initial tension. This spring can be pushed to bend in any direction in 360 degrees from the linear axis.

The basic Bowden wire connection lacks an internal liner but may be protected by a thin, flexible shield made of:

• Polyethylene
• Nylon,
• PVC - depending on the external conditions to which it will be subjected.

Lined Bowden Conduits

• These Bowden conduits have flexible plastic liners wound internally in a tightly wound spring.
• Lined Bowden conduits are beneficial to be used where friction is to be reduced.
• They are effective when moisture and corrosion can cause problems due to severe weather conditions.

Typical Liners

• High-Density Polyethylene
• Nylon
• Teflon